OneEastside Economic Outlook Summit 2026

On January 21, business, civic, nonprofit, and community leaders from across East King County gathered at Microsoft Commons in Redmond for the 8th annual OneEastside Economic Outlook Summit. The morning brought together decision-makers from healthcare, financial services, retail, nonprofit, and local government to better understand the economic forces shaping 2026 and how organizations are already responding.

The program opened with a timely and data-driven 2026 Economic Forecast from economist Matthew Gardner, Principal & Chief Economist at Gardner Economics. Gardner described the current economy as a “reset cycle” following years of inflation, rapid interest rate increases, and market volatility. Rather than returning to pre-pandemic norms, he emphasized that businesses and households are now adjusting to a higher-cost, higher-rate environment that is likely to persist longer than many expect.

Gardner highlighted several key trends: slowing consumer spending, continued cost-of-living pressures, workforce realignments, housing affordability challenges, and uncertainty in commercial real estate— particularly office markets. Despite these pressures, he noted that many organizations are operating from a position of strength, with cautious optimism driven by disciplined investment, stabilizing inflation, and long-term regional growth.

Following the forecast, a regional outlook panel moderated by Don Baker, Publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal, brought a local perspective 1 to the data. Panelists shared how economic shifts are being felt on the ground and how their organizations are adapting in real time.

• Meghan Altimore, CEO of Hopelink, spoke about growing demand for services, particularly related to housing stability, food access, and transportation, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration to meet community needs.
• Chris Bredeson, Chief Operating & Strategy Officer at EvergreenHealth, discussed workforce pressures in healthcare and how operational innovation and technology are helping the system remain responsive and resilient.
• Denise Moriguchi, President & CEO of Uwajimaya, reflected on changing consumer behavior, supply chain realities, and the value of long-standing community relationships in navigating uncertainty.
• Ryan Zilker, EVP & Chief Growth Officer at Sound Credit Union, shared insights into small business and consumer financial trends, noting both caution and opportunity as households and entrepreneurs adapt to a new economic landscape.

Together, the panel underscored a common theme: while the environment remains complex, organizations across the Eastside are finding ways to innovate, collaborate, and plan strategically for what’s ahead.

The Summit concluded with a strong sense of connection and shared purpose, reinforcing the value of coming together to gain insights and outlook, learn from one another, and prepare for the future.

Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, partners, and attendees for making this year’s Summit a success. We look forward to continuing the conversation in 2027. 

Event Resources:
▶️ Matthew Gardner’s presentation video
▶️ Forecast slides
▶️ Event photo album
▶️ Summit recap article